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CraftWars
Craft Wars Logo
CraftWars
Season SeasonIcon Hallow's End Fall
Dates September 08 - December 01 (2020)
Duration 12 Weeks
Theme StarCraft StarCraft / Warcraft Warcraft
Highlights

CraftWars is a StarCraft and Warcraft-themed event in Heroes of the Storm that began on September 08.

Background[ | ]

The reemergence of the Dark Nexus has led to fiercer competition for Singularities than ever before — but a small group of Heroes is transforming the conflict. The Realm Crafter they’ve developed doesn’t just bring Heroes from multiple dimensions together in the Nexus — it actually fuses them, along with their friendships, rivalries, and powers.

Does Mei have it in her to be a Death Knight? What are the odds that Gazlowe will excel as a pro SCV pilot? Who’s the biggest heartthrob: Anduin Wrynn, Valerian Mengsk, or a combination of their wonderfully symmetrical faces?

While some body-melded Heroes take the time to learn from one another and their new circumstances, others are double-mindedly focused on the war to become MVP. The CraftWars are spiraling throughout the realms, and you’ll need to choose a side carefully — the King of Blades waits to absorb stragglers from every corner of the battlefield.

Prove you’re more than the sum of your parts as mash-ups of your favorite Heroes in the wildest matchup the Nexus has ever seen.

Content[ | ]

Skins[ | ]

CraftWars Skins
 
Backstory: Corrupted by the Zerg's insatiable bloodlust, Arthas turns battlefields to burial grounds as the King of Blades.
Features: Themed animations.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into StarCraft skins.
Arthas King of Blades
Gem900 / Shard1,800
Arthas King of Blades Venomous
Gem900 / Shard1,800
Venomous
Arthas King of Blades Lavawrought
Gem900 / Shard1,800
Lavawrought
Backstory: In the rear, with the gear... and a whole lot of explosives, ha!
Features: Themed abilities.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into StarCraft skins.
Gazlowe Mineral Harvester
Gem900 / Shard1,800
Gazlowe Mineral Harvester Firebat
Gem900 / Shard1,800
Firebat
Gazlowe Mineral Harvester Rich
Gem900 / Shard1,800
Rich
Backstory: Long-exiled by his adopted Nerazim brethren, Artanis has finally found a new unity.
Features: Themed abilities.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into Warcraft skins.
Artanis Draenei Executor
Gem350 / Shard600
Artanis Draenei Executor Royal
Gem350 / Shard600
Royal
Artanis Draenei Executor Darksteel
Gem350 / Shard600
Darksteel
Backstory: Mei has dedicated her life's work in climate science to saving her world for future generations. But if she can solve death, she can save everything.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into Warcraft skins.
Mei Necrotopologist
Gem350 / Shard600
Mei Necrotopologist Frostbitten
Gem350 / Shard600
Frostbitten
Mei Necrotopologist Devilish
Gem350 / Shard600
Devilish
Backstory: "The path to peace is through our children," Anduin remarked, explaining the hereditary dynasty he'd made of the Pan-Terran Alliance.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into StarCraft skins.
Anduin Emperor of the Dominion
Gem240 / Shard150
Anduin Emperor of the Dominion Glorious
Gem240 / Shard150
Glorious
Anduin Emperor of the Dominion Studious
Gem240 / Shard150
Studious
Backstory: After much experimentation, mo'arg engineers have succeeded in miniaturizing the fel reaver's design and fusing it with a captive sentient soul. The results are quite promising.
Features: Altered voice-over.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into Warcraft skins.
Blaze Fel Reaver Galvanic
Gem375 / Shard450
Galvanic
Backstory: It is said any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Medical Corps officer Uther Lightbringer tends to agree.
Features: Altered voice-over, themed abilities.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into StarCraft skins.
Uther Medic Angelic
Gem525 / Shard600
Angelic
Backstory: The terrans are descended from Earth's exiled prisoners, mutants, and degenerates. Some, like the military ursine-handler Cpl. Rex Arkk, are more genetically aberrant than others.
Features: Altered voice-over, themed abilities.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into StarCraft skins.
Rexxar Raider Angelic
Gem900 / Shard1,800
Angelic
Backstory: The Royal Apothecary Society's experiments have resulted in many alchemical discoveries, which Apothecary Morales administers to soldiers in the field. Some side effects may occur.
Features: Altered voice-over.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into Warcraft skins.
Lt. Morales Apothecary Acid
Gem375 / Shard450
Acid
Backstory: Alright, fess up... Who put the murloc in that power armor? Sammy? We talked about this... Guys, this is real cute and all, but how the heck are we supposed to get him out of there?
Features: Altered voice-over, themed abilities.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into StarCraft skins.
Murky Grunty Earthy
Gem525 / Shard600
Earthy
Backstory: As the terrazine haze cleared from his mind, Illidan saw what he had become. His body had mutated, grown irreversibly addicted... But the power was worth any price.
Features: Altered voice-over, themed abilities.
Notes: This skin theme is part of a shared theme of other universes merging into StarCraft skins.
Illidan Spectre Scorch
Gem900 / Shard1,800
Scorch
Backstory: Hana Song, also known as "D.Va," is both a world champion professional gamer and a burgeoning global icon. As a member of South Korea’s elite MEKA unit, she fights to protect her homeland from the colossal omnic threat lurking within the East China Sea.
D.Va Shining
Gem180 / Shard112
Shining

Mounts[ | ]

CraftWars Mounts
 
Epic Invincilisk
Backstory: Corrupted by the Zerg's insatiable bloodlust, Arthas turns battlefields to burial grounds as the King of Blades.
Invincilisk
Gem525 / Shard600
Invincilisk Slimeheart
Gem525 / Shard600
Slimeheart
Invincilisk Sulphurous
Gem525 / Shard600
Sulphurous
Epic Iron Kite
Backstory: Are you driving it into battle, or are you just an accessory to its rampage?
Iron Kite
Gem525 / Shard600
Iron Kite Stromgarde
Gem525 / Shard600
Stromgarde
Iron Kite Kul Tiras
Gem525 / Shard600
Kul Tiras

Portraits[ | ]

CraftWars Portraits
 
Angery Zergatul Portrait
Angery Zergatul
Gem75 / Shard40
Cyb'arak Portrait
Cyb'arak
Gem75 / Shard40
Gotcha! Portrait
Gotcha!
Gem75 / Shard40
Illuminated Draenei Executor Artanis Portrait
Illuminated Draenei Executor Artanis
Gem75 / Shard40
Invincilisk Portrait
Invincilisk
Gem75 / Shard40
King of Blades Arthas Portrait
King of Blades Arthas
Gem75 / Shard40

Natural Selection Portrait
Natural Selection
Gem75 / Shard40
Queen of Death Portrait
Queen of Death
Gem75 / Shard40
Scheming Mineral Harvester Gazlowe Portrait
Scheming Mineral Harvester Gazlowe
Gem75 / Shard40
Shadow Warchief Portrait
Shadow Warchief
Gem75 / Shard40
Swarm Coil Portrait
Swarm Coil
Gem75 / Shard40
Target Sighted! Portrait
Target Sighted!
Gem75 / Shard40

Thoughtful Emperor of the Dominion Anduin Portrait
Thoughtful Emperor of the Dominion Anduin
Gem75 / Shard40
Tinker'd Portrait
Tinker'd
Gem75 / Shard40
Zerg'jin Portrait
Zerg'jin
Gem75 / Shard40

Sprays[ | ]

CraftWars Sprays
 
Deepmine Spray
Deepmine
Gem180 / Shard112
Draenei Executor Artanis Spray
Draenei Executor Artanis
Gem75 / Shard40
Frostmourne Spray
Frostmourne
Gem180 / Shard112
Goblin SCV Spray
Goblin SCV
Gem75 / Shard40
Low Battery Spray
Low Battery
Gem180 / Shard112
Mineral Cluster Spray
Mineral Cluster
Gem75 / Shard40

Nuclear Launch Detected Spray
Nuclear Launch Detected
Gem75 / Shard40
Protoss Chicken Spray
Protoss Chicken
Gem75 / Shard40
Rearing Invincilisk Spray
Rearing Invincilisk
Gem75 / Shard40
Shadowmeld Spray
Shadowmeld
Gem180 / Shard112
Shalamayne Spray
Shalamayne
Gem180 / Shard112
Sunken Burrow Spray
Sunken Burrow
Gem75 / Shard40

Vespene Geyser Spray
Vespene Geyser
Gem75 / Shard40
Warcraft Food Spray
Warcraft Food
Gem75 / Shard40
Zerg Throne Spray
Zerg Throne
Gem75 / Shard40

Emojis[ | ]

Craft Wars Pack Emoji Craft Wars Pack Craft Wars Artanis
Emoji Name Shortcuts
Emoji Craft Wars Pack Craft Wars Artanis Craft Wars Artanis :craftarta:
Emoji Craft Wars Pack Craft Wars Arthas Craft Wars Arthas :craftarth:
Emoji Craft Wars Pack Craft Wars Anduin Craft Wars Anduin :craftandu:
Emoji Craft Wars Pack Craft Wars Gazlowe Craft Wars Gazlowe :craftgaz:
Emoji Craft Wars Pack Craft Wars Turret Craft Wars Turret :craftturr:

Development[ | ]

In Assistant Art Director Trevor Jacobs’ point of view, Arthas—Warcraft’s Crown Prince of the Alliance turned Lich King—was the key actor that unraveled the worlds of possibility in CraftWars. “We were thinking that Arthas—Lord of the Dead, Lich King—would somehow take Kerrigan’s throne,” Jacobs says, slowly, his eyes growing wide. “But is Arthas conquering all the worlds? Or is he just after StarCraft?” the artist muses to himself.

Jacobs and Senior Artist Andrew Kinabrew admit Mei—a climatologist fighting for world peace in the Overwatch universe—isn’t exactly “cross-craft”, but interpreting her as an icy, evil Death Knight was simply too irresistible. “We thought this skin just had to happen,” says Jacobs. “We were seeing it pop up in the community, and we were like ‘dude, we’re doing it,’ and were stoked to be riding the wave.” Kinabrew made the skin quite some time before CraftWars was put on the production schedule and seized the opportunity to make her the perfect accomplice for the King of Blades in his coldhearted plot.

Based on the StarCraft SCV, Gazlowe’s newest skin drops with this pack just in time for his rework. “I think my favorite is the Gazlowe skin,” says Kinabrew. “I was really proud we could finally get that one in. We’ve been mulling it over for a long time.” Jacobs tells us in hushed tones that he wasn’t sure about the idea in the beginning, but that he was willing to be convinced by Kinabrew. “So, Gazlowe fans, you have Brew to thank,” says Jacobs. “Now he’s one of my favorite skins in the pack, too.”

Artanis, the Executor of the Protoss army in StarCraft, appears in CraftWars as a Draenei, an ancient spacefaring race uncorrupted by Kil’Jaeden’s dark power. In their vision of the clash, the artists say Artanis would be a key player in the opposition force to the King of Blades’ invasion. “We’ve worked on all these games,” says Jacobs. “This is a team that helped spawn characters like Artanis. So, this was a fun history of us just throwing things together and seeing what stuck.”

In CraftWars, Anduin has crossed over from being a prince in Warcraft to being… a prince in StarCraft. When asked about Anduin’s new look, Jacobs and Kinabrew take turns interrupting each other’s responses with punctuated laughter. “It’s the funniest one to me,” says Jacobs. “I feel bad even saying it… but Anduin, Valerian… they’re just so close. To me there’s so much humor here in this skin.” Being long-time fans of both Warcraft and StarCraft, Jacobs and Kinabrew say working on Heroes is a unique opportunity to poke fun at the characters they love from time to time, and they hope the players get a good laugh, too.

So, who WOULD win? “By just combining the power of the Lich King with the Primal Zerg power, in addition to the never-ending forces he would summon… Arthas should win,” says Jacobs. Here he pauses. “But that would never happen,” he says. “I am sure we would have Gazlowe invent an off-switch for the undead Zerg. Mei would fall in love with Anduin and turn against Arthas. And Artanis would sacrifice himself and become the King of Blades, but nice.” Kinabrew mulls that over. “I imagine they would probably grow flowers, or something,” he says thoughtfully.[1]

Gallery[ | ]

Teaser[ | ]

Concept Art[ | ]

Loading Screen[ | ]

Videos[ | ]

References[ | ]

External Links[ | ]

Events
 
Seasonal SeasonIcon Lunar Festival Spring Lunar Festival (2015–2018) • Caldeum Complex (2019) • Fragments of the Dark Nexus (2020)
SeasonIcon Sun's Out, Guns Out Summer Sun's Out, Guns Out (2017) • Nexomania (2018) • MechaStorm II (2019) • Nexomania II (2020)
SeasonIcon Hallow's End Fall Hallow's End (2015–2017) • Fall of King's Crest (2018) • The Scarlet Heist (2019) • CraftWars (2020)
SeasonIcon Winter Veil Winter Winter Veil (2015–2017) • It's Time for Toys! (2018) • Toys II (2019) • Winter Treasure (2020)
Unique 2015 Nexus 15 Love is in the AirWarcraft NoblegardenDiablo (franchise) Eternal Conflict
2016 Nexus 15 Love is in the AirStarCraft Machines of WarNexus 15 Nexus Challenge
2017 Nexus 15 Love is in the AirWarcraft For Azeroth!Nexus 15 Nexus Challenge 2.0Nexus 15 Second AnniversaryDiablo (franchise) Malthael's BargainWarcraft Call of Kel'ThuzadOverwatch Assault on Volskaya FoundryNexus 15 Dragons of the Nexus
2018 StarCraft StarCraft 20th AnniversaryNexus 15 Behold the Power of the Dark Nexus!Nexus 15 3-Year AnniversaryWarcraft Echoes of AlteracNexus 15 Raiders of WarchromeNexus 15 Viper Ascendant
2019 Nexus 15 Viper ResistanceNexus 15 4-Year AnniversaryNexus 15 Return to Warchrome Wastes
2020 Nexus 15 5-Year AnniversaryNexus 15 Greek GodsWarcraftDiablo (franchise) Altered Fates
2021 Overwatch Overwatch CosplayDiablo (franchise)StarCraftWarcraft Legends of the PastNexus 15 6.5-Year Anniversary
Notes: Events that featured a quest line are bolded. Events that featured login rewards are italicized.
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